Laminated Ceramic Component Electrode Joining
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As laminated ceramic electronic components are downsized, the contact area between internal and external electrodes decreases, leading to deteriorated joining properties and reduced fixing forces between the internal electrode layer and the external electrode.
Innovation Solution
A laminated ceramic electronic component with a cuboid shape, featuring a plurality of dielectric and internal electrode layers, where the external electrodes include a plating layer and an underlying electrode layer with Cu crystals and glass, ensuring good electrical conductivity and enhanced fixing force through strategic crystal orientation and interface contact points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the component is downsized, then the component size is reduced, but the contact area between internal electrode layer and external electrode decreases leading to deteriorated joining property
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a protruding portion on the external electrode that locally increases the contact area with the internal electrode layer. This protrusion concentrates the joining function at a specific location, compensating for the overall reduction in contact area due to downsizing. The protruding portion has a larger cross-sectional area than the surrounding electrode regions, providing enhanced mechanical interlocking and electrical connection despite the smaller overall component dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dimensionality change by extending the external electrode in the thickness direction to form a protruding portion. This vertical extension adds a new dimensional aspect to the contact interface, transforming a two-dimensional contact problem into a three-dimensional solution. The protrusion extends toward the internal electrode layer, creating multiple contact points and increasing the effective joining area without significantly increasing the planar footprint of the component.
2Volume of moving object
If the component is downsized, then the component size is reduced, but the contact area between external electrode and laminate decreases leading to reduced fixing force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a protruding portion on the external electrode that locally increases the contact area with the internal electrode layer. This protrusion concentrates the joining function at a specific location, compensating for the overall reduction in contact area due to downsizing. The protruding portion has a larger cross-sectional area than the surrounding electrode regions, providing enhanced mechanical interlocking and electrical connection despite the smaller overall component dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dimensionality change by extending the external electrode in the thickness direction to form a protruding portion. This vertical extension adds a new dimensional aspect to the contact interface, transforming a two-dimensional contact problem into a three-dimensional solution. The protrusion extends toward the internal electrode layer, creating multiple contact points and increasing the effective joining area without significantly increasing the planar footprint of the component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly improves the joining property between the internal and external electrodes, securing a strong fixing force by optimizing the contact probability and connectivity between the internal electrode layer and the external electrode.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of Cu crystals have different crystal orientations, and an average crystal length of the Cu crystals having different crystal orientations is not less than 0.3 μm and not more than 3 μm
Implementation Method 2
The underlying electrode layer contains a plurality of Cu crystals and glass when observing its cross-section including the underlying electrode layer with a scanning ion microscope image
Data Source
AI summary
A laminated ceramic electronic component that includes a laminate having a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of internal electrode layers laminated together. External electrodes having underlying electrode layers and plating layers are formed on both end surfaces of the laminate. When a cross-section including the underlying electrode layers is observed, the underlying electrode layers contain a plurality of Cu crystals and glass, and an average value of lengths of demarcation lines of the Cu crystals having different crystal orientations is 3 μm or less.